WebSourced, Beal Part Ways

Search engine marketing company WebSourced VP of marketing Andy Beal has resigned, citing philosophical differences with his former employer.

“This decision is not one that comes lightly. It is clear that my vision for the company’s future does not match-up with its current course. These philosophical differences have led me to conclude that WebSourced current path does not align with my own beliefs,” wrote Beal in his Search Engine Lowdown blog.

The post was made last night, and has since been removed by Beal at the company’s request. Beal is listed as the owner of the SearchEngineLowdown.com domain since August 2003 in DNS records, and a disclaimer at the bottom of the site identifies it as his personal blog. However, Beal responded to a conversation at the Threadwatch.org site, saying he would not likely be posting at Search Engine Lowdown again

When contacted by ClickZ News, Beal declined to comment on the situation. WebSourced had not responded to inquiries by press time.

Beal decision follows a similar one made in May by Jason Dowdell, WebSourced former director of search technologies. On his Marketing Shift blog in June, he wrote, “Quite simply, WebSourced and I had differences of opinion and have since parted ways. I wish them the best of luck with everything they have going on and I’m sure they think the same. I’m sorry but there will be no juicy details, quite simply, we were moving in different directions and that about sums it up.”

As first reported by Threadwatch, WebSourced parent company CGI Holdings revealed in SEC documents that it filed a lawsuit in a Florida court on May 27 against Dowdell and his wife. The suit alleges Dowdell failed to perform his employment duties, that he breached a confidentiality agreement, and that he failed to return computer equipment and files when he resigned. The Dowdells filed a counter-claim seeking damages for breach of contract, breach of good faith and fair dealing, and unjust enrichment.

Beal and Dowdell were both prominent faces to WebSourced SEM practice, which includes KeywordRanking and the recently acquired Smart Interactive in the UK. Other high-profile search marketers remain, including Smart Interactive’s Mike Grehan, and Heather Lloyd-Martin, who joined the company in December as director of search strategies.

CGI Holdings is also involved in affiliate marketing and online dating.

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